N21PL

On August 8, 2002, at 1923 eastern daylight time, a Cessna R182, N21PL, was substantially damaged during landing at Reading Regional/Carl A. Spaatz Field (RDG), Reading, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, from Reading to Saratoga County Airport (5B2), Saratoga Springs, New York. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, after departing Reading, he climbed the airplane to 5,500 feet, and arranged for flight following. About 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot noted that the airplane's airspeed was 120 knots when it should have been 150 knots. The pilot checked that all gauges were "in the green." He then contacted air traffic control, and requested a return to Reading.

The pilot was advised to descend to 3,000 feet, and handed off to Reading Approach Control. He was subsequently advised to enter a right downwind to runway 36.

Upon entering the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to lower the landing gear, but was unable to do so. He contacted the tower controller, and requested to hold southwest of the airport to attempt a manual gear extension. The pilot felt he could not extend the landing gear, despite resetting the gear motor circuit breaker. He asked the tower controller for a fly-by, to observe the landing gear.

When the fly-by occurred, the tower controller advised the pilot that the nose landing gear was down, but the main landing gear were up. The pilot then made an approach to runway 36, shut down the engine before ground contact, and landed "nose high." The nose landing gear remained extended as the airplane slid to a stop at the intersection of runway 31.

Post-flight examination of the airplane revealed that a hydraulic fluid line had separated from the landing gear motor. According to the pertinent Safety Board Materials Laboratory Factual Report, the line separated at one end, where it had pulled out of the end fitting. The braided nylon exterior was unraveled over the approximate portion of line that had been inserted into the end fitting. The line revealed no evidence of mechanical damage. The diameter of the separated end of the line averaged 0.488 inch, while the diameter of the fitting at the intact end of the line averaged 0.482 inch.

The hydraulic line was installed on the airplane during the airplane's manufacture. The airplane had accumulated 2,100 hours of operation.